Electrical apparatus



Dec. 15, 1936. H vc, A g 7 2,064,093

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed March 30, l93l Patented Dec. 15, 1936 1 v UNITED ST E15.

1 Claim. (01. 117-311) This invention relates to ignition mechanism and more particularly to a combinedapparatus for deliveringignition energy to an internal com-, bustion engine and for indicating the'timing of such energy. Y v -It is highly desirable in various instances to employ in combination with an internal .combustion engine ignition system, some mechanism whereby the timing of the ignition maybe readily and easily observed in order that the engine igni tionmay be quickly and correctly adjusted to result in the most' eflicient operation. It'has also been found desirable tov utilize mechanism such as that referred to above, in connection with investigations of the characteristics of fuels used in internal combustion engines; as for example, the determination of the-anti-knock qualitiesof particular fuels. v d

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide novelmechanismwhereby the timing of the ignitionofan internal combustion engine may be readily and accur'ately'ob served. r Another object ofthe invention is to provide a novel mechanism of the above character embodying a circuit breaker mechanism which also serves as the timerstructure for the ignition circuit.

Still another object is to provide a novel combined circuitbreaker and spark protractor whereby there is embodied in a single unitary structure, the ignition energy circuit making and breaking mechanism together-with the novel apparatus for indicating the timing of the ignitionspark.

A further object is to provide in a device of the above character, a'novel arrangerrientof parts whereby a simple and compact structure is obtained, and one which is readily adaptable to internal combustion engines whereinits'use :will result in extreme ease in'the determination of the exact timing of the ignition spark and the subsequent adjustment for mosteflicient operation. '1 I I The above and other objects will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwherein one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that. the drawing is for purposes of illustrationonly and is 'notto' be taken as a definition of the limitsof the invention, ref erence being. had for thispurpose to the appended claim. Y r v v In the drawing:--. 7 Fig. 1 is a front view ,of acombined; circu t 1 ticularlyreferred to hereinafter. e a Means are;provided, for supporting the oute r end of the arm l5 and with the surface illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig..2;'and. q v r i Fig. 4 is an 'ignition circuitwiringf diagram embodying the invention. '3

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, a structure embodying thepresent breaker and .spark .protractor embodying the principles of the present invention; ,7 j Fig. ,2 is a vertical section .of the apparatus portion a forming a bearing-for the timing shaft 10 of; an internal combustion engine-the said shaft being adapted to actuate the; mechanism 6 and the spark indicating means 8, as .will be more parthe circuit breaker mechanism 6 within the housing portion 5, and preferably such means are so. constitutedas to be adjustablein order; that the timingof theinterruption of the ignition I circuit controlled by the. mechanism Smay be readily varied. In the formshown, suchsupporting means are consticontacts Band 14 as'by means of arms. [5 and i6 respectively. Relative movement between the contacts iseffected by operationfof a resilient I actuating arm I! carrying acamfollower, or ruba bing block l8 at its outer end cooperating with ofa cam l 9, carried by-shaft Ill. In order to vary tuted bya base plate 1! to Whichissecured a. .bracket l2 adapted to supportrelatively movable the positionof the circuit breaker 6 relative to ;the.-cam l9, and thus jadjustthe ignition timing,

an adjusting member 20} is provided, the/said memberhaving screw-threaded.engagement with a flange 2 |.,of the plate ll and being movable angularly, ina slot .22 provided in the housing .portion 5, .with the plate H to adjust the position of same. After such-adjustment'has beengefiected, the member. 20 may be tightened in order to. securethe parts in their; adjusted position.-

In 'order to .providethe-necessary electrical connections for the relatively movable contacts I I3 and, the arms lt and [6 are connected'to the opposite terminals of a condenser 23- by means of leads 2} and 25 .respectively.- 'I'heterminal of the condenser connected to the I5. is. thereafter connected to arterminal 25 .bYgfl flexibleconnection-fl while the other-terminal oithc cQndenser -is'connectedto a terminal 20 55 portion 6. Means are carried by the forward portion of by flexible connection 29. Each of the terminals 26 and 26 is suitably insulated'from the housing the shaft III for indicating the timed relation between the engine shaftand the occurrence of the ignition spark and preferably such means are housed-within the casing portion 1. As. shown such means are constituted by an arm 2601. in-' sulating material, secured to the forward end' of the cam is as by means of a pin 36 and screw 3|. The pin 36 is adapted to cooperate with either of the openings 32 or 33 in order to adapt the apparatus for eflicient operation'in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, the arcuate distance between the openings 32 and 33 representing substantially the degree of backis preferably closed 'by an insulating: plate 36 secured to thehousing by means of screws 40 and I carrying at its center the stud 31. Adjacent its outerportion, the plate-381s provided with an arcuate slotted opening 4| permitting theobservance of the tube 34 through a narrow slit 42 provided in a member 43 secured to the arm 23, the'said slit also registering with a second slit; 44 in the arm 28 located adjacent the tube 34. By this constructioma substantially narrow pencil oflight emitted by the tube when the same is energized, as will appearhereinaften-may be observed through the opening 4|. A station ary scaleor protractcr 46 which is preferably graduated in a manner to correspond with the position of the engine flywheel, is secured to the cover plate 39 directly above the opening 4 hand cooperates with the spark indicating means l-to indicate the number of degrees of retardation or advancement of the flywheel when sparkingenergyoccurs.,"--

In orderto properly electrically connect the above-described structureinan ignition system,

the terminal26 is connected to one end of a suitableignition coil primary winding 46 through a lead 4l, while the other terminal'23 of the circuit breaker is connected to one side of a-battery 43 by means of a'lead'49. The primary circuit is completed by a lead 63 in which a, suitable switch 6| may beinserted. A secondary coil 62 is connected at one end, to groundindicated at Gby a connection 63, and the otherend of the secondary is electrically connected as by means of a lead 64 to a spark plug 66 adapted to furnish,

, the sparking ignition. energyfor the internal combustionengine; The-spark indicating device 6 is connected in parallel withthe" spark plug 66 and such connection is] preferably effected by terminal stud n.

.a lead 66 which'is adapted to be-secured to the- From the above it. will readily be observed that in operation, with the. shaft l0" drivably con nected to any suitable Irotatable portion of the v engine,rotation of said shaft will notonlyeffect operation of the circuit breaker 6 inorder to suvinner rounded end of the ply ignition energy to the engine, but such rotation will alsoefiect movement of the indicating mechanism 8 in timed relation with the engine,

and the glow discharge tube 34 embodied'in such mechanism will be energizedduring each periodic actuation of the contacts [3 and l4, Upon each actuation of the circuit breaker, ignition energy will be conducted to the spark plug through theconnection 64 with the secondary 'coil 62, as well understood in the art, in order to ignite the explosive charge which has been drawn into the cylinder of the engine. Some of this energy will pass through the tube 34 by means of connection 66, stud 31, resilient arm 38 and spring bracket- 36, the energy passing to the grounded housing 7 portion.- I from the, bracket 36 after passage through the tube, the space between said lastnamed bracket and the housing functioning as a small condenser, indicated at 61 in dotted lines in Fig. 4. 1

During each successive energization ofthe spark plug 66 and the glow tube 34, the lightemittedby the lattermay be observed through the opening 4| andialigned slits 42 and 44. The position which this pencil of light occupies, during rotation ofthe arm 23 and' tube 34, relative to the scale 46 will serve as an accurate indication of the exact time at which the spark occurs in the engine cylinder relative to, the position ofthe engine piston or flywheel. If it is desired to either advance. orretardthe tlmingiof the spark, it is only necessary to loosen the adjusting member 20 and move. the same together with the base plate II and circuit breaker mechanism mounted thereon, in the desired direction. Such adjustment, as'well understood, will serve to vary theposition oi the contacts 13 and I4 relative to'the cam l3.

There is thus provided by the-present invention a novel combined ignition circuit breaker and spark protractor for producing, the ignition energy for an internal combustion-engine as well L as indicating the precise timing relation between the occurrence ofthesparking energy andxthei position of the engine flywheel. This unitary construction embodies readily adjustable 1 for varying the timing of theignition spark,

which renders the device especially adaptabletfor use in determining-the characteristics of internal combustion. engine fuels, as for example, the;

anti-knock quality thereof, inasmuchasthe operatormay readily vary, the timingand simultaneously therewith visuailygobserve the exact" degree of variation by-the cooperation; between lithe glowdischarge tube and the stationary pronism has been shownfor usein connection with an internalcombustion engine having a single cylinder, it will be apparentfthatthe same may be readily adapted for use in connection with engines having a plurality of cylinders, it being merely necessary ,to' provide additional lobes to the cam for actuating the circuit breaker mecir-' anism and to include the usual high tension distributor. In such event the high-tension lead from the secondary of the 'ig'nitioncoil, may also be connected to vthespark indicating and the protractor and slottedopening in the housing extended to include .380' in'order thatthe-timing oijeverv lpark'may beohserved; It

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will also be understood that the spark indicating mechanism may be used alone, ii. desired, and a separate circuit making and breaking mechanism may'be employed. Various other changes may be made in the' relative sizes and shapes and location of the component parts of the invention, as well understood by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit thereof. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claim for a definition of the limits of the in-' vention.

What is claimed is: A combined circuit breaker and spark protractor tor the ignition circuit oi. an internal combustion engine comprising a housing, a circuit breaker mechanism within said housing for periodically interrupting said ignition circuit to produce electrical impulses therein, a rotatable cam shaft extending into said housing to periodically actuate said mechanism, said shalt-being rotatable in timed relation with the timing shaftof the engine, means extending through a slot in the housing and accessible from the exterior of said housing for adjusting the position of said mechanism with respect to said shaft. an arm within said housing carried by said shaft, a

glow discharge tube secured to said am, a cover plate for said housing, said plate having an opening registering with said tube in one position, of its rotatable movement, said opening being 

